Wad for cartridges



(No Model.)

I. G. FARNHAMi WAD FOR CARTRIDGE-Sr No. 247,327. Patented Sept. 20,1881.

1 l "II":

u, mm mm- W UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK G. FARNHAM, ()F WHITE MILLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

WAD FOR CARTRIDGES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,327, dated September 20, 1881.

Application filed July 26, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK G. FARNHAM, of White Mills,in the conntyof Wayne and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented anew and useful Improvement in Wads for Cartridges; and I do hereby declare that the following isafull, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to wads adapted for use in loading paper cartridge-shells; and its object is to increase the durability of the shell and to render it possible to load and discharge it a greater number of times than has been possible with the ordinary construction.

My invention consists in a wad having its edges coated with adhesive material, in combination with an ungummed wad, which forms a base upon which such gummed wad rests.

The construction and manner of operating will now be more clearly pointed out and afterward claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents ashotcartridge partly broken away to show my improvement. Fig. 2 shows a section of one of the gummed wads; Fig. 3, aview of a series of gummed wads ready for use Fig. 4, aseparate view of the thin wad used in connection with the gummed wad; Fig. 5, a view of the cutter for forming the wads, and Fig. 6 a separate view of the removable frame.

In pointing out the peculiar advantages attending the use of my invention, attention is called to the manner of constructing paper shells now commonly used. The wad is inserted in the loaded shell, and the edge of the shell turned down by means of a suitable tool to hold the wad in place. By the discharge the turned-down portion is blown outand is torn and weakened. 1n reloading the shell it is necessaryto cut off this portion and to turn down an additional length to hold the new wad, which shortens the shell, causing it to fit loosely in the chamber and increasing the recoil. For this reason a paper shell can never be used over two or three times. These diifienlties are entirely obviated by the use of my improved wad, which will now be described.

The wad A is of substantially the usual circular form to fit the cartridge, but is cutaway on opposite sides, as shown at a. It is preferably constructed of thick paper orboard; but

I do not limit myself to any particular material, since any suitable substance usually employed for the purpose may be used. The wad A is coated on its edge with mucilage, gumarabic, or dextrine, or any adhesive material which hardens, but becomeszsticky when moistened. The device is cut away, as at a, both in order to supply the required vent and to make the insertion of the gummed wad into the shell easier and the liability of scraping oil" the adhesive material less, for, as the wad is narrower on the recessed sides, it will slip into the shell without the amount of rubbing that would otherwise be unavoidable. This wad A may be used alone with good results but I prefer to employ in connection with it the thin paper or pasteboard wad B, (shown in Fig. 4,) which is first inserted into the shell on top of the charge, and makes a firm base for the wad A to rest upon. It also preserves the circular form of the shell, which might become flattened, owing to the narrower diameter of wad A in one direction.

In the discharge of the gun, the wad, being simply held by the adhesion of the gum, is forced out without in any way affecting the material of which the shell is composed, and I have found by actual test, what must be evident, that the number of times of which the shell is capable of being used is very greatly increased.

For cutting out the wads I use the cutting device shown in Figs. 5 and 6, on which I intend to make application for Letters Patent. Briefly described, it consists of a holder, E, in the lower end of which the cutter proper, F, is secured. The holder may be used with a foot-press or with a mallet by hand. The cutter is provided with two internal projections, which form the cut-away portions on opposite sides of the wad. Within the holder E, I place a frame, G, which is constructed of a single piece of spring metal, bent so as to form springarms, which open a little outward when in their normal position, and are brought nearer togetherin place byariugorrings,H. Theinner face of these arms is convex, and their size corresponds to that of the depressions in the edge of the wad. When the frame is placed in position and the cutting commences, the wads will be driven, one after another, up into the frame, the arms entering the depressions and holding the wads packed tightly together. The frame is in this way filled, and, being removed, is replaced by another, which is filled in turn. The wads, still packed together in the frame, are then coated with adhesive ma-- terial by a brush, the recesses, of course, being left ungummed. Being so tightly packed, they are caused to adhere together when dry,

though they can be easily separated for use.

When dry they are broken off into convenient lengths and packed, together with a sufficient number of the thin ungummed wads, in boxes, for sale.

It is, of course, understood that this wad is applicable only to paper shells, and as applied FRANK G. FARNHAM.

Witnesses JOHN MGINTOSH, RICHID. WILLIAMS. 

